Contestants at Springfield Jewish Community Center's Maccabi Games pitch in around the area, donate more than $2,000 in food to Rachel's Table

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanTeens from South New Jersey look for the best value for food purchased at the Big Y supermarket in Longmeadow and bound for area food banks Tuesday as they take part in the 2011 Maccabi Games day of caring and sharing. From left are soccer coach David Heier, Laurel Heier, 14, Harrison Faulseit, 13, Sierra Anderson, 14, and Kylie Goldfarb, 14. The Springfield Jewish Community Center is hosting part of the week-long olympic-style sporting event for more than 800 Jewish teens ages 13-16 from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Israel.

This week, more than 800 Jewish teenagers, ages 13 to 16, from around the world are competing in the Olympics-style games in the city. As required of all athletes, they took time off to act by the “tikkun olam” creed.

Two hundred teens swarmed the Big Y supermarket on Bliss Street in Longmeadow on Tuesday, spending more than $2,000 on food for the needy. They came in two groups, with soccer players arriving in the morning and swimmers and track and field athletes in the afternoon.

The food was donated to Rachel’s Table, a Springfield non-profit that distributed it to area shelters, pantries and soup kitchens. Rachel’s Table raised the money for the drive and gave the volunteers Big Y Silver Coins, which act as coupons.

“The athletes come together (for) so much more than a regular athletic competition,” said Deborah Rubenstein, Executive Director of Rachel’s Table. “It’s nice to win, but it’s really about saving a community.”

Nevertheless, the event was a contest. The groups were split into teams and asked to spend as close to $50 as possible. Whoever bought the most food and saved the highest percentage of money will be recognized in the Maccabi Games newspaper, said Rubenstein.

“It’s fun. It’s nice to help people,” said Jillian Snow, 14, a soccer player with the Chicago delegation. Her team picked out more than $90 worth of corn, rice, chicken and other nutritious food, much of it on sale. After redeeming their Silver Coins, they paid $53.16 and saved 41 percent.

“It’s nice to know this food is going to people who really need it,” said soccer player Sarene Shaked, 15, of a New Jersey delegation.

Store Director Robert McGoldrick said other customers also donated food. Big Y has held regular drives for Rachel’s Table for eight years, he said.

“It’s a lifelong lesson for these kids,” said McGoldrick. “We enjoy it as much as the kids do.”

Also on Tuesday, Maccabi Games athletes threw a dance party, complete with volleyball and table tennis, for sheltered girls from Girls Inc.

Wednesday, two carnivals were scheduled at the Springfield Jewish Community Center for kids from area summer camps, Gray House and the Boys and Girls Club. A senior Olympics event was set with residents of Ruth’s House Assisted Living in Longmeadow, along with bowling games for children and young adults with special needs at Shaker Bowl in East Longmeadow.